Italy’s best live nativity scenes

Discover the best Live Nativity Scenes Italy has to offer this year with this Italo guide to spending a memorable family weekend.

This Christmas season, journey beyond the typical markets and discover the enchanting tradition of Italy’s presepi viventi, life-sized Nativity scenes. Imagine strolling through charming towns transformed into living depictions of Bethlehem, complete with artisans practicing ancient crafts and townsfolk portraying biblical characters.

Unveiling a Beloved Tradition:

For centuries, Italians have celebrated Christmas with these evocative displays. Each region boasts its unique take, offering a glimpse into local history and customs. Here, we unveil ten of the most captivating presepi viventi, all accessible by train with Italo:

1. The live Nativity scene of San Biagio – Lombardy
2. The live Nativity scene of Tenno – Trentino Alto Adige
3. The live Nativity scene of Dogliani-Castello – Piedmont
4. The live Nativity scene of Equi Terme – Tuscany
5. The live Nativity scene from Greccio – Lazio
6. The live Nativity scene of Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio
7. The live Nativity scene of Pietrelcina – Campania
8. The 18th century live Nativity scene from Vaccheria – Campania
9. The live Nativity scene of Tricase – Apulia
10. The live Nativity scene of Gasperina – Calabria

1. The live Nativity scene of San Biagio – Lombardy

The San Biagio living nativity scene in Bagnolo San Vito is in its 31st edition. You can find it in Via Chiesa, 30 in San Biagio in the province of Mantua. You just arrive at the sports field adjacent to the parish church in an area of about 5,000 square meters. It is an absolutely silent and truly unique setting that gives you a magical Christmas atmosphere. You can visit it on December 25, 26 and 29, 2024 and January 5,6 and 12, 2024.

The living nativity scene involves the whole town with more than 300 figures! and it consists of:

3:30 pm – The Waiting:

The village comes alive with a frenetic bustle. Artisans and merchants, in their period garb and ancient tools, bring to life a pulsating marketplace. Bakers, fishermen, blacksmiths, weavers: each store is a world unto itself, a snapshot of a past life. As you stroll among the huts, you can admire the craftsmanship of the artisans and breathe in the air of Palestine.

5 p.m. – The Nativity:

At dusk, the classic scenes of the nativity such as the Annunciation, the Visitation of Mary Elizabeth, the announcement of the Angel to Joseph, of course the birth of Jesus, the adoration of the shepherds and the Mag. iThe rapt audience watches the performance, enveloped in an almost religious silence, broken only by the sacred melodies and the footsteps of the shepherds on their way to adore the Child.

5:30 p.m. – The feast:

The joy of Jesus’ birth spreads through the village. Lights are turned on, illuminating the facades of houses and the faces of the figures. Bethlehem is transformed into a place of celebration, where time expands and worries melt away.

Admission is free. Possible to leave an offering for the Parish.

Travel to Mantua with Italo

Set out for Mantua with Italo and enjoy the ease of traveling to more places thanks to the new combination tickets from Italo with Trenitalia regional trains. Discover all the new itineraries and connections and immediately buy your ticket on Italotreno. Before buying your ticket, remember to log in to your account to take advantage of Italo Più offers and rates for members only. If you haven’t already done so, you can register for free for the Italo Più Loyalty Program, and immediately get a 5% discount on your first trip and accumulate points on consecutive trips to earn free reward tickets.

2. The live Nativity scene of Tenno – Trentino Alto Adige

Experience the magic of the live Nativity scene of Tenno on the cliffs halfway between Lake Garda and the Alps. Arrive in the small medieval village of Canale di Tenno, in Trentino, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, which for one day only, becomes a vast theater for the suggestive Nativity pageant. In this splendid village, the live Nativity scene is staged on Boxing Day, 26 December. Stroll through the cobbled streets of the town and admire the angels, the shepherds with their animals in tow, and the Holy Family housed in a stable in the village. Among the sweet melodies of Christmas carols you can see the olden crafts, customs and traditions of the past at work.

It is a truly evocative experience due to the particularity of the setting and the unforgettable scenes, that each visitor can come in touch with the spirit of Christmas.

Head to Rovereto with Italo

Reach Rovereto with the ease of Italo high-speed trains and then take the public transport to Trentino at Canale di Tenno, it takes less than an hour and a half. Visit the page regarding train timetables for Rovereto and buy your low-cost, modifiable ticket in advance. Don’t miss our guide to Christmas markets in Rovereto: a memorable experience!

3. The live Nativity scene of Dogliani-Castello – Piedmont

Started in 1975, this nativity scene has become a tradition in the picturesque village of Dogliani (Turin). Near its castle and the surrounding houses, you can attend the 50th edition of the live nativity scene. The highly realistic setting of the event with leave a lasting impression on all who visit. The village is transformed into a remarkable, though slightly smaller, facsimile of the city of Bethlehem.

You can admire the houses decorated as small shops where the old farmers, smiths and craftsmen of a bygone era, such as spinners, shepherds, grain threshers, blacksmiths, potters, go about their work in these ancient bazaars.

You can attend this spectacular Nativity pageant in Dogliani Castello, on the evenings of December 23 and 24, 2024, starting at 20:30.

Travel to Turin with Italo

Reach Turin by high-speed train on the many routes established by Italo from Salerno, Naples, Rome, Florence, Reggio Emilia, etc. Make use of the combination tickets from Italo, linking with the regional trains of Trenitalia, to discover even more itineraries and connections easily bought all at once on Italotreno.

4. The live Nativity scene of Equi Terme – Tuscany

In the county of Lunigiana, in the province of Massa Carrara, there is the small village of Equi Terme, where you can admire the most traditional living nativity scene in Tuscany. The route you have to take to reach the cave of the Nativity is very suggestive, located in the famous Grotta di Equi Terme, this is a site of exceptional naturalistic and geological importance. The path that leads to the cave is entirely lit by torches and candles, creating a breathtaking atmosphere for this sacred scene!

The route takes 40 to 60 minutes and can be done on December 25 and 26 from 20 to 23:30 pm and on December 27 and 28 from 6 to 9 pm.

Admission to the live nativity scene is €5.

Head to Massa Carrara with Italo

Travel to Massa Carrara with Italo, using Italo’s combined tickets, which combine Italo’s luxurious high speed trains with Trenitalia’s regional trains, and which can be easily purchased on Italotreno.

5. The live Nativity scene from Greccio – Lazio

Less than an hour and a half from Viterbo, in Greccio, the tradition of the living nativity scene is one of the oldest in Italy. It was there, in Greccio, in 1223, that St. Francis set up the world’s first live nativity scene after saving the medieval town from the threat of wolves. Francesco moved to a hut just outside Greccio and, admiring the landscape similar to the city of Bethlehem, decided to re-enact the birth of Jesus in this very village carved into the rock.

According to the biographies of St. Francis, the lord of the castle, following the advice of the saint, had a crib built in a cave under the castle of the town. During a religious ceremony, a child appeared and St. Francis took him in his arms.

Since then, every year during the Christmas season, this wonderful and evocative moment is recalled under the castle of the small town.

6. The live Nativity scene of Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio

Another evocative Nativity scene near Viterbo can be found in Civita di Bagnoregio, accompanied by the beautiful scenic atmosphere of the village. The Nativity comes to life at sunset on December 26, 2024, and on January 1, 6, 7 and 8, 2025.

The Italian Red Cross of Bagnoregio and Lubriano traditionally carries out this initiative in collaboration with the Municipality of Bagnoregio and Casa Civita srl.

To reach Civita di Bagnoregio, you have to cross the long and iconic stone bridge, suspended in a void and surrounded by the breathtaking panorama of the Valle dei Calanchi. Entering the ancient town, built into a dramatic tuff cliff, you will have the vivid sensation of having stepped back in time.

You can admire the ten unique scenes that, like a mosaic, reconstruct the birth of Jesus. From the Roman fortress, to Herod and the noble residences, to a Bedouin tribe, the craftsmen at work, the Magi, the shepherds, the leper hospital, and finally the Nativity, there is an interweaving of colors, emotions and beauty to create a truly spectacular Christmas atmosphere.

An exceptional experience in its genre, capable of touching the tender emotions cherished during the Christmas season.

Head to Viterbo with Italo

Travel to Viterbo with Italo, using Italo’s combined tickets, which combine Italo’s luxurious high speed trains with Trenitalia’s regional trains, and which can be easily purchased in one go on Italotreno. Don’t miss our guide to the 5 most beautiful villages in Italy, including Civita di Bagnoregio, the dying town.

7. The live Nativity scene of Pietrelcina – Campania

To see a live nativity scene that has become a real institution, you just have to travel to Pietrelcina, the birthplace of Padre Pio, in the province of Benevento. This live representation of the Nativity, which takes place in the small streets and alleys of the town, began in 1987 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Padre Pio’s death. Thanks to the annual collaboration of more than 200 people, this live nativity scene has been able to maintain a high level of attention to detail, creating splendid, realistic and refined costumes that are truly eye-catching.

Many of the inhabitants of the town take part in the pageant, transforming the town into a small Bethlehem where you can admire all the craftsmen’s shops, the animals, the temple of the high priests, the Roman military garrison, the synagogue and the grotto where the climactic scene of the Nativity with the Magi takes place. It’s located in the barn of the Forgione family, near the birthplace of Saint Pio.

The live Nativity scene of Pietrelcina will be staged on the 27, 28, and 29 December 2024. For more information, costs, online booking and tickets, go to presepeviventepietrelcina.it.

Head to Benevento with Italo

Travel with Italo thanks to the many trains to Benevento and then on to Pietrelcina.

8. The 18th century live Nativity scene from Vaccheria – Campania

The historic 18th-century Neapolitan Living Nativity Scene of Vaccheria, a small hamlet 4 km from Caserta. The dates when you can see the historic representation are December 8, 10, 11, and 26, 2024, and January 6 and 8, 2025.

One of the many pictures you can see is the Nativity scene, which is very impressive. It is a kind of event within the event that you cannot miss. To look at the nativity scenes, the ticket is free.

Head to Caserta with Italo

Travel to Caserta with Italo’s high speed train! Check all the timetables and prices of our trains to Caserta to arrive at Viale Giulio Douhe, 2014, just a few steps from the Royal Palace. Do not miss our guide on how to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta in one day and for a small culinary treat, here is a guide to the 5 best pizzerias in Caserta.

9. The live Nativity scene of Tricase – Apulia

In the province of Lecce you will find the beautiful town of Tricase, a summer destination that stands out for its wonderful natural pool in the sea rocks, one of the most beautiful in all of Italy, which during the Christmas season becomes a winter destination for its famous live Nativity scene.

This year the Tricase live nativity scene is in its 43rd edition and has been staged since 1976. What makes it unique is that it has a permanent structure, open 365 days a year, located on the slopes of Monte Orco. The days of the live re-enactment are the 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th of December 2024 and the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th of January 2025.

The tradition of the live Nativity is presented against a backdrop of ancient handicrafts and the culinary and folkloric traditions of Capo di Leuca. A visit to the Nativity scene is an opportunity to experience at first hand the craftsmanship and elaborate processes of ancient trades, along a journey of about 2 kilometers, interspersed with sparkling lights and crackling fireplaces.

In addition, in nearby Salento, another re-enactment involving more than 200 people in costume working as craftsmen, commoners and farmers is a great way to end your visit to the area.

While watching the live Nativity in Tricase, don’t miss the extraordinary local craftsmen at work, such as the tanner, a craft linked to the majestic Vallonea oak of Tricase, or the rope maker, the weaver, the stonemason, the papier-mâché artists, the miller and his wife. You can also taste local specialties such as pittule, a kind of fried pastry appetizer, and local wines.

In short, the Nativity of Tricase, faithful to tradition and folklore, is one of the most awaited events of the year in Puglia.

Head to Lecce with Italo

With Italo you can easily arrive in Lecce to discover its wonders and thanks to the new combination ticket from Italo that links its routes with Trenitalia regional trains. Discover all the itineraries and connections and instantly buy your ticket at Italotreno.

What are you waiting for? Lecce to Tricase is less than 40 minutes by train!

10. The live Nativity scene of Gasperina – Calabria

If you want to fully experience the spirit of Christmas, travel to Gasperina in Calabria for the event Human Figures in the Humble Theme of the Living Nativity, Beyond Darknees, Light.

This is the 20th year of the Living Nativity and it will be held on December 26 and 27, from 17:00 to 20:30 in Piazza E. Fermi in Gasperina.

The event has been organized by the Association Il Sotterraneo Pro Gasperina A.P.S., with the support of the Gasperine Associations and financed by the Regione Calabria within the framework of the Calabria Extraordinary Project of the Department of Tourism, Territorial Marketing of the Region.

The staged performances for Beyond Darkness, Light are scheduled for January 1, 2025, in Piazza Fermi, from 17:00 to 20:30.

With Italo travel to Lamezia Terme

Travel with Italo on one of the many trains to and from Lamezia Terme, such as from Milan or Rome to arrive in Gasperina. Experience the magic of the live nativity scenes in Calabria and discover the wonders of the region. Before buying your ticket, remember to log in to your account to take advantage of Italo Più offers and rates available only to members. If you haven’t already done so, you can join the Italo Più Loyalty Program for free and immediately receive a 5% discount on your first trip and collect points on future trips to earn free reward tickets.